Factbook of the Unified City-States of Tsvarchi + Q&A

[Maraque]

We are running a deficit at this present time.

[Teaport]

How does Maraque regulate political contributions to candidates?

[Maraque]

Corporations and special interest groups are banned from donating to political campaigns, and individuals may only donate a maximum of $2,500. As well, each candidate can only spend a total of $25,000,000 on their campaigns (ads and so on), and candidates cannot finance their own campaigns.

[Teaport]

But if they cannot finance their own campaigns, does that not leave them ultimately to the decision of donations as to who can run?

[Maraque]

But if they cannot finance their own campaigns, does that not leave them ultimately to the decision of donations as to who can run?

If nobody is donating to them they're not all that popular, now are they?

[Teaport]

Or said special interest groups could influence the vote and thereby the donations, and the potential for candidates to even run in any election?

[Sungai Pusat]

But if they cannot finance their own campaigns, does that not leave them ultimately to the decision of donations as to who can run?

If nobody is donating to them they're not all that popular, now are they?

But doesn't that limit the political speech of those unpopular groups? I mean, even if they are unpopular, they do have a right to freely say what they think, correct?

[Maraque]

Or said special interest groups could influence the vote and thereby the donations, and the potential for candidates to even run in any election?

Like corporations, special interests/lobbyists aren't allowed to participate in the political process, which includes attack ads endorsing or in favor of a candidate.

But if they could, it is the people's responsibility to research the candidates in question and if they fell for the attack ads then it's their fault if they elected a bad candidate as a result.

[Maraque]

If nobody is donating to them they're not all that popular, now are they?

But doesn't that limit the political speech of those unpopular groups?

No.

[Sungai Pusat]

But doesn't that limit the political speech of those unpopular groups?

No.

How so? Please tell me if there is ay other way they can talk about politics effectively without having the finances to do so.

[Maraque]

No.

How so? Please tell me if there is ay other way they can talk about politics effectively without having the finances to do so.

Every candidate has the same freedom of speech, every candidate has the equal opportunity to seek a public forum such as a radio station or television show to let their voice be heard.

[Teaport]

How so? Please tell me if there is ay other way they can talk about politics effectively without having the finances to do so.

Every candidate has the same freedom of speech, every candidate has the equal opportunity to seek a public forum such as a radio station or television show to let their voice be heard.

So they can use their personal assets in a speech like this to seek donations to their campaign so they have a chance of competition for the election?

[Maraque]

Every candidate has the same freedom of speech, every candidate has the equal opportunity to seek a public forum such as a radio station or television show to let their voice be heard.

So they can use their personal assets in a speech like this to seek donations to their campaign so they have a chance of competition for the election?

Absolutely. Then again radio and television usually doesn't charge people for interviews and such.

And then there's always the televised debates. Sometimes they last for days, weeks, etc.

[Sungai Pusat]

How so? Please tell me if there is ay other way they can talk about politics effectively without having the finances to do so.

Every candidate has the same freedom of speech, every candidate has the equal opportunity to seek a public forum such as a radio station or television show to let their voice be heard.

OK, So how does one get the money to go onto a radio station or a TV show, especially since you'll still be a candidate having their campaign, which would mean they would be obliged under the same rules? Look at the bolded below:

Corporations and special interest groups are banned from donating to political campaigns, and individuals may only donate a maximum of $2,500. As well, each candidate can only spend a total of $25,000,000 on their campaigns (ads and so on), and candidates cannot finance their own campaigns.

[Maraque]

Every candidate has the same freedom of speech, every candidate has the equal opportunity to seek a public forum such as a radio station or television show to let their voice be heard.

OK, So how does one get the money to go onto a radio station or a TV show, especially since you'll still be a candidate having their campaign, which would mean they would be obliged under the same rules? Look at the bolded below:

Corporations and special interest groups are banned from donating to political campaigns, and individuals may only donate a maximum of $2,500. As well, each candidate can only spend a total of $25,000,000 on their campaigns (ads and so on), and candidates cannot finance their own campaigns.

A radio or television interview doesn't cost much, if anything.

[Sungai Pusat]

OK, So how does one get the money to go onto a radio station or a TV show, especially since you'll still be a candidate having their campaign, which would mean they would be obliged under the same rules? Look at the bolded below:

A radio or television interview doesn't cost much, if anything.

But you said that candidates cannot finance their own campaigns. If no one is going to donate to an unpopular group and they can't finance their campaigns, how do you suppose they get their voice heard effectively?

[Maraque]

A radio or television interview doesn't cost much, if anything.

But you said that candidates cannot finance their own campaigns. If no one is going to donate to an unpopular group and they can't finance their campaigns, how do you suppose they get their voice heard effectively?

What does that have to do with appearing on a television show at all?

[Sungai Pusat]

But you said that candidates cannot finance their own campaigns. If no one is going to donate to an unpopular group and they can't finance their campaigns, how do you suppose they get their voice heard effectively?

What does that have to do with appearing on a television show at all?

See, you said that it did not cost much to go onto TV or on radio. But it still costs. And because they (the candidates) cannot finance their own campaigns, which also means they cannot finance the campaigns out of their own pockets, they cannot go for a TV interview or the radio show interview unless it's by invite.

[Maraque]

What does that have to do with appearing on a television show at all?

See, you said that it did not cost much to go onto TV or on radio. But it still costs. And because they (the candidates) cannot finance their own campaigns, which also means they cannot finance the campaigns out of their own pockets, they cannot go for a TV interview or the radio show interview unless it's by invite.

False.

Television appearances more often than not don't cost a thing. Even so, paying whatever it is they might charge for you to appear on their program isn't against the rules at all.

[Sungai Pusat]

See, you said that it did not cost much to go onto TV or on radio. But it still costs. And because they (the candidates) cannot finance their own campaigns, which also means they cannot finance the campaigns out of their own pockets, they cannot go for a TV interview or the radio show interview unless it's by invite.

False.

Television appearances more often than not don't cost a thing. Even so, paying whatever it is they might charge for you to appear on their program isn't against the rules at all.

OK, then. So, could you give me in more specific detail, other than saying ads and so one?

[Maraque]

Ads (internet, phone, television, radio), campaign staff, town halls, stumping, etc., all count towards campaigning. A candidate cannot pay for these things out of their personal finances (exceptions include transportation costs). Television or radio interviews don't count as campaigning, and dipping into one's personal finances is fine in this instance.

[Sungai Pusat]

Ads (internet, phone, television, radio), campaign staff, town halls, stumping, etc., all count towards campaigning. A candidate cannot pay for these things out of their personal finances (exceptions include transportation costs). Television or radio interviews don't count as campaigning, and dipping into one's personal finances is fine in this instance.

Oh, I got it. Thanks for that.

[Maraque]

Not a problem.

[Teaport]

At least a lack of corporate, special interest groups and personal funds means less ads.

So were guessing the ban of personal finance on campaigns is to allow say, a billionaire and a middle class person an equal chance at campaigning, and at the merits of their popularity, not their $$$?

[Maraque]

At least a lack of corporate, special interest groups and personal funds means less ads.

So were guessing the ban of personal finance on campaigns is to allow say, a billionaire and a middle class person an equal chance at campaigning?

That is exactly the reason. As a result our Royal Legislature has some of the poorest members of society representing the people as well as some of the wealthiest. Truly representative.